Minutes and audio/video recordings
Meeting location
The Suncadia Lodge
3600 Suncadia Trail
Cle Elum, WA 98922
- Committee Meetings
8:00am - 10:00am – Big Tent Committee - Commissioners Lehmkuhl, Baker, Parker, & Smith
To listen, dial 253-215-8782 and enter Webinar ID# 852 8591 7981
Agenda Topics:
- Policy Updates
- Lessons for Collaboration: Yakima Basin
- Public Trust Doctrine II: Professor Michael Blumm
- Future Meeting Planning & General Discussion
10:00am - 12:00pm – Fish Committee - Commissioners Anderson, Linville, Ragen, Parker
To listen, dial 253-215-8782 and enter Webinar ID# 854 8908 9823
Agenda Topics:
- Resident Native Trout Harvest Management Policy
- C-3622: Willapa Bay Salmon Management Policy
- Coastal Steelhead Season Setting Regulations
- Future Meeting Planning & General Discussion
1:00pm - 3:00pm – Wildlife Committee - Commissioners Smith, Anderson, Rowland, & Myers
To listen, dial 253-215-8782 and enter Webinar ID# 845 9953 0361
Agenda Topics:
- Mountain Goat Management
- Bighorn Sheep Disease and Management
- Non-Lethal Pursuit Pass Training Program Update
- Bear and Cougar Season Option(s)
- Future Meeting Planning & General Discussion
**Cancelled** – Habitat Committee - Commissioners Linville, Lehmkuhl, Ragen, & Myers
Meeting cancelled and agenda topics will be carried over to a future meeting.
- Regular Meeting Hybrid/Cle Elum
If you are interested in providing public comments online during a hybrid meeting, please register online.
Virtual Participation:
The following virtual registration deadlines are in effect:
- Registration for those wishing to provide virtual comments closes at 5pm the day before the meeting begins.
- Open Public Input is intended for comments on matters not found elsewhere on the agenda.
- Registrants will be called upon and typically have three (3) minutes to speak.
- If you are unable to participate, you can submit your comments on the Commission contact page.
In-Person Participation:
The following in-person deadlines are in effect:
- If you haven't pre-registered, complete a Public Testimony Form, available at the registration table.
- The form must be submitted at least 15 minutes prior to the beginning of the agenda item you wish to testify on.
To listen to the meeting, please access it using the Zoom Link, TVW AM Session Link, or the TVW PM Session Link
or by phone by dialing 1-253-205-0468 and entering Webinar ID# 845 4589 7205
8:00am - 8:30am – 1. Call to Order
8:30am - 10:00am – 2. Open Public Input
The Commission is a direct link between the citizens of Washington and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Comments on Department programs and topics of concern are welcome during this portion of the meeting. NOTE: During this portion of the meeting, the public is encouraged to comment on issues that do not already have public input time on the agenda.
10:00am - 10:15am – Break
10:15am - 11:00am – 3. Director's Report
The Regional Director will welcome the Commission and give an update on happenings in the area, and the Department of Fish & Wildlife Director will brief the Commission on various items.
11:00am - 11:15am – 4. 2025 Commission Meeting Schedule - Decision
Staff will ask the Commission for a decision on the proposed 2025 Commission Meeting Schedule.
Staff Report: Jamie Caldwell - Executive Assistant
11:15am - 12:00pm – 5. Pygmy Rabbit Periodic Status Review - Briefing, Public Comment, Decision
Staff will brief the Commission and request a decision on the status of Pygmy Rabbits.
Staff Report: Gerry hayes - Wildlife Biologist and Taylor Cotten - Conservation Assessment Section Manager
12:00pm - 1:00pm – Lunch
1:00pm - 1:30pm – 6. Land Transaction - Briefing, Public Comment, Decision
The Commission will consider approval of two Lands Transactions, an acquisition in Skagit County, and a property management-land use agreement in Okanogan County, as recommended by the department.
Staff Contact: Matthew Trenda - Real Estate Manager and Lisa Coffman - Lands 20/20 & Acquisition Funding Coordinator
1:30pm - 1:50pm – Break
1:50pm - 2:20pm – 7. Lands 20/20 Update - Briefing
Staff will brief the Commission on 20 proposed land acquisitions under consideration as part of the Department's Lands 20/20 process. The proposed acquisitions cover about 13,749 acres across 10 counties.
Staff Report: Matthew Trenda - Real Estate Manager, Lisa Coffman - Lands 20/20 & Acquisition Funding Manager, and Cynthia Wilkerson - Wildlife Program Lands Division Manager.
2:20pm - 3:20pm – 8. Spotted Owl Resilience - Briefing
Staff will brief the Commission on approaches to recover the Spotted Owl including maintenance of habitat, population augmentation, and Barred Owl management.
Staff Report: Julia Smith - Endangered Species Recovery Section Manager and Emilie Kohler - Northern Spotted Owl Species Lead
3:20pm - 4:20pm – 9. Black Bear and Cougar Hunting Framework Update - Briefing
Staff will brief the Commission and provide an update on the black bear and cougar hunting framework.
Staff Report: Stephanie Landry - Carnivore, Small Game, and Furbearer Section Manger and Anis Aoude - Game Division Manager
4:20pm - 4:45pm – 10. 2024 Rulemaking Delegation to the Director - Discussion, Decision
The Commission will discuss and decide whether to delegate some or all of the rules anticipated to be brought forward around Chronic Wasting Disease, Bullfrog, Waterfowl, Ungulate, and Carnivore Hunting to the Director.
Staff Report: Anis Aoude - Game Division Manager and Mick Cope - Wildlife Program Manager
4:45pm – Recess
- Regular Meeting Hybrid/Cle Elum
If you are interested in providing public comments online during a hybrid meeting, please register online.
Virtual Participation:
The following virtual registration deadlines are in effect:
- Registration for those wishing to provide virtual comments closes at 5pm the day before the meeting begins.
- Open Public Input is intended for comments on matters not found elsewhere on the agenda.
- Registrants will be called upon and typically have three (3) minutes to speak.
- If you are unable to participate, you can submit your comments on the Commission contact page.
In-Person Participation:
The following in-person deadlines are in effect:
- If you haven't pre-registered, complete a Public Testimony Form, available at the registration table.
- The form must be submitted at least 15 minutes prior to the beginning of the agenda item you wish to testify on.
To listen to the meeting, please access it using the Zoom Link or TVW Link
or by phone by dialing 1-253-205-0468 and entering Webinar ID# 868 0762 7300
8:00am - 9:30am – 11. Open Public Input
The Commission is a direct link between the citizens of Washington and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Comments on Department programs and topics of concern are welcome during this portion of the meeting. NOTE: During this portion of the meeting, the public is encouraged to comment on issues that do not already have public input time on the agenda.
9:30am - 9:45am – Break
9:45am - 10:45am – 12. Meeting Debrief and Future Meeting Planning
The Commission will discuss items that arise immediately before, during, or after the meeting and will consider future agenda planning.
10:45am - 11:00am – Break
11:00am - 1:00pm – 13. Executive Session & Working Lunch
Pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(i) and RCW 42.30.110(1)(g), the Commission will meet in executive session to discuss with legal counsel representing the agency, matters relating to agency enforcement actions, or to discuss with legal counsel representing the agency litigation or potential litigation to which the agency, the governing body, or a member acting in an official capacity is, or is likely to become, a party, when public knowledge regarding the discussion is likely to result in an adverse legal or financial consequence to the agency and to evaluate the qualifications of an applicant for public employment or to review the performance of a public employee. No action will be taken during the executive session and the public is not permitted to attend.
**The Executive Session was cancelled and will be rescheduled at a later date**